Mike Okoro
{{Short description|Nigerian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name= Mike Okoro
|birth_date= {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1981|12|30}}
|height= 1.75 m
|position= Forward
|youthclubs1= Kogi United
|years1= 1999
|clubs1= Bendel Insurance
|caps1=
|goals1=
|years2= 2000
|clubs2= GKS Katowice
|caps2= 14
|goals2= 1
|years3= 2000–2001
|clubs3= Amica Wronki II
|years4= 2000–2001
|clubs4= Amica Wronki
|caps4= 2
|goals4= 0
|years5= 2001–2002
|clubs5= Indian Telephone Industries
|caps5= 20
|goals5= 8
|years6= 2002–2004
|clubs6= East Bengal FC
|caps6= 37
|goals6= 20
|years7= 2004–2005
|clubs7= Sparta Szamotuły
|years8= 2005–2006
|clubs8= East Bengal FC
|caps8= 12
|goals8= 1
|years9= 2006–2009
|clubs9= Mohammedan SC
|years10= 2009
|clubs10= Sparta Szamotuły
|years11= 2010
|clubs11= JCT F.C.
|caps11= 13
|goals11= 5
|years12= 2011
|clubs12= Grom Plewiska
|years13= 2011–2013
|clubs13= Świt Piotrowo
|years14= 2014–2015
|clubs14= Pogoń Lwówek
|caps14= 18
|goals14= 2
|years15= 2015–2016
|clubs15= Sokół Pniewy
|caps15= 9
|goals15= 4
}}
Mike Emmanuel Okoro {{IPAc-en||audio=Ig-Mike Emmanuel Okoro.ogg}} (born 30 December 1981) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a forward.{{cite web|first=Abhishek|last=Shukla|date=7 July 2018|url=http://www.indiafooty.com/table/2010-11-i-league-standing/|title=I-League 2010/11 final standings|publisher=Indian Footy|website=indianfooty.com|access-date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918012237/http://www.indiafooty.com/table/2010-11-i-league-standing/|archive-date=18 September 2018|url-status=dead}}
Club career
After a successful 2001–02 campaign with Indian Telephone Industries, Okoro reportedly received offers from Germany, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Goa,[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Okoro-aiming-to-play-in-Germany/articleshow/4544501.cms Okoro aiming to play in Germany] Times of India before deciding to sign with East Bengal for the next season,[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Okoro-ours-say-East-Bengal/articleshow/7745906.cms Okoro ours, say East Bengal] Times of India striking a hat-trick in a 4–1 win over Hindustan Aeronautics.[http://www.rediff.com/sports/2003/feb/08nfl2.htm Okoro scores thrice for East Bengal] Rediff.com
After a short stint in Poland, Okoro rejoined East Bengal in 2005[https://www.telegraphindia.com/1050921/asp/sports/story_5265601.asp Mike Okoro raring to go]{{dead link|date=February 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Telegraph India despite interest from Dempo and Mahindra United months earlier.[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Okoros-NFL-foray-held-up-in-Poland/articleshow/1012555.cms Okoro's NFL foray held up in Poland] Times of India Skipping the Red & Gold Brigade's encounter away to JCT to renew his Polish citizenship in February 2006,[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Is-everything-OK-with-Okoro/articleshow/1397071.cms Is everything OK with Okoro?] Times of India the club reportedly owed Okoro 130000 Rupees when he visited Poland for citizenship reasons. This amount was eventually given to him[https://web.archive.org/web/20060527185105/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060404/asp/sports/story_6054641.asp Okoro-EB standoff put to rest, for a while] Telegraph India despite them originally saying that he in fact owed them 334000 Rupees.[https://www.telegraphindia.com/1060401/asp/sports/story_6042066.asp New twist to Mike Okoro episode]{{dead link|date=February 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Telegraph India
Throughout his career, the Nigerian has been committed a series of transgressions, including pushing the referee in 2003[https://web.archive.org/web/20030921105234/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030917/asp/sports/story_2373709.asp IFA lets off players lightly - Barreto, Okoro among 7 banned for a match] The Telegraph - Calcutta slapping a different referee while with Mohammedan in 2008 for "asking uncomfortable questions",[https://web.archive.org/web/20180616182322/http://www.sify.com/sports/journalist-slapped-by-mohammedan-sporting-s-nigerian-player-news-football-jegvaxdjgbbsi.html Journalist slapped by Mohammedan Sporting's Nigerian player] Sify.com and breaching contract regulations by exchanging teams mid-season despite signing a one-year contract with Mohammedan in 2007.[http://zeenews.india.com/home/ifa-slaps-heavy-fines-on-okoro-and-tombo_381999.html IFA slaps heavy fines on Okoro and Tombo] Zee News{{cite web|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/sport/others/mohd-sportings-name-keeps-sponsors-away/articleshow/15855556.cms|title=Mohd Sporting's name keeps sponsors away|date=26 September 2008|access-date=15 July 2022|website=mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com|publisher=Mumbai Mirror|location=Mumbai, Maharashtra|first=Vaibhav|last=Pawar|archive-date=15 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715084855/https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/sport/others/mohd-sportings-name-keeps-sponsors-away/articleshow/15855556.cms}}
Personal life
His baby, Juliette, died in 2005, the same year she was born.[https://web.archive.org/web/20030922103544/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030918/asp/sports/story_2377705.asp Okoro loses baby] Telegraph India With his Irish girlfriend Barbara, the striker took the educational responsibility of an orphan girl, who was then four years old.[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/EBs-Okoro-scores-winner/articleshow/1355946.cms EB's Okoro scores winner] Times of India
Honours
Amica Wronki II
- Polish Cup (Poznań regionals): 2000–01[http://poznan.wyborcza.pl/poznan/1,36006,268751.html Puchar Polski okręgu poznańskiego dla rezerw Amiki Wronki] Wyborcza Poznań
East Bengal
- National Football League: 2002–03, 2003–04
- ASEAN Club Championship: 2003{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/field/968097/making-a-mark-in-asia-east-bengals-2003-asean-cup-win-a-defining-moment-for-indian-club-football|title=Making a mark in Asia: East Bengal’s 2003 Asean Cup win – a defining moment for Indian club football|website=Scroll.in|access-date=25 September 2021|archive-date=27 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127192359/https://amp.scroll.in/field/968097/making-a-mark-in-asia-east-bengals-2003-asean-cup-win-a-defining-moment-for-indian-club-football|url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617165146/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1060329/asp/sports/story_6028695.asp |date=dmy |title=Okoro wants to play for Mohun Bagan }}
- [http://www.thehindu.com/2003/01/09/stories/2003010901132200.htm Okoro's goal takes East Bengal into final]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
- Polish Wikipedia Page
- [http://www.mwyniki.pl/polska/klasa-okregowa/druzyny/sokol_pniewy/mike_okoro/ mWyniki.pl Profile]
- {{Soccerway|mike-okoro/67418}}
- [http://www.ligawielkopolska.ligspace.pl/index.php?mod=Players&ac=Stats&lp_id=851 Liga Wielkopolska 2015 Profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Okoro, Mike}}
Category:Footballers from Enugu
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Nigerian men's footballers
Category:Kogi United F.C. players
Category:Bendel Insurance F.C. players
Category:East Bengal Club players
Category:Mohammedan SC (Kolkata) players
Category:National Football League (India) players
Category:Nigerian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Poland
Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Poland
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in India